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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Elf on the Shelf

28 replies

chunkyjumper · 09/12/2018 00:14

Am I the only person that cannot be bothered with the elf? My kids have been a nightmare getting up at 6am or earlier asking if they can go see what the elf is up to. I'm tired. They're tired. Elf is a dick! Kids behaviour is pretty awful. Should I wrote a note saying he'd gone until behaviour improves? Who's idea was this?

OP posts:
Bacardi101 · 09/12/2018 00:18

I don’t know but I hate it too I’ve just has to drag myself out of bed as I forgot about him!!! I think the naughty elf might have to accidentally climb in the recycling bin!!

Original poster
chunkyjumper · 09/12/2018 00:20

That's the worst! Just about to fall asleep then remembering!

OP posts:
cancla · 09/12/2018 00:22

OMG I'm so glad you posted. Now I need to crawl out of the cosy bed, put some pyjamas on and go sort the bloody elf!

ReggieKrayDoYouKnowMyName · 09/12/2018 00:23

I’ve resisted it so far because I think it’s a) American b) stupid and c) not an American stupid thing we actually need. However 4yo is in reception now and her class teacher is doing it and posting frigging updates about the class fucking elf on the schools blog and she thinks it is just hilarious and wants to know why we don’t have our own personal elf. Ergh. I can tell I’m going to have to do it next year which is just balls.

littlebillie · 09/12/2018 00:24

Glad the missed the elf thing it's recent and bin it if you don't need it. We didn't

Starlight456 · 09/12/2018 00:27

This is the first year not moved the elf in a few years. Son is at secondary school.

So lovely to get in bed all through December and go “ shit elf “

MilkyCuppa · 09/12/2018 00:27

It’s terrifying imo. A creepy elf with a smug facial expression who spies on you and grasses you up to Santa. And who supposedly does naughty things that you’d get grounded for if you did them yourself. It’s totally sending mixed messages and frightening kids.

Reaa · 09/12/2018 00:28

Just move the elf to inside a box of cereal or in the fridge so it looks like it's been stealing the food during the night.

You can also shove it on the bathroom floor with a few bits of toilet roll scattered around.

Hang it off a light fitting

Stick him in one of the DC cups in the cupboard so when they open the cupboard they find it.

Shove him in the bin and tell them he was missing his own family so went back early.

Original poster
chunkyjumper · 09/12/2018 00:30

In my defence, I did not start it. My mum brought an elf back from a holiday in the US before anyone here had heard of Elf on the Shelf. She did it in her house for a few years so it was pretty casual (ie when my kids visited elf would be up to no good). Then my dad got very ill one Christmas time a few years ago so mum said you’ll need to do elf. Was fun at first but now it’s so boring.... I struggle to think of fun or different things. And kids get up mega early to see what he’s done 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
chunkyjumper · 09/12/2018 00:31

Lol at ‘shove him in the bin’ 🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
altiara · 09/12/2018 00:33

I don’t have one, I think my kids have heard others talk about it as they’re 9 and 12. No idea when this craze started.
It used to take me about 3 nights to remember tooth fairy duties so the elf is definitely not for me!

FrogFairy · 09/12/2018 00:47

I am officially an old curmudgeon as I hate the elf.

Why is it amusing that the elf does naughty, mischievous things, but our children would be bollocked for doing such things? I just think it is making a joke out of unacceptable behaviour.

OK, I will bend over now so you can all kick me up the arse.

Original poster
chunkyjumper · 09/12/2018 00:49

I agree with you FrogFairy! Total pain in the bum!

OP posts:
Corneliusmurphy · 09/12/2018 01:08

It works really well here, told my kids if they continued misbehaving an elf would be sent to us and they immediately stopped it as they’re horrified by the creepy things. Thankfully.

junebirthdaygirl · 09/12/2018 08:11

Children in school tell me they find it really creepy. Could you leave a note from elf saying he sees they are so good that he doesn't need to check on them anymore so is off back to Santa to report that to him.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 09/12/2018 08:14

Creepy things used by parents who think they are being ‘wacky’, it’s so contrived.

I think it comes under the ‘forced fun’ category.

hidinginthenightgarden · 09/12/2018 08:17

Other than reading the story when it first arrived, I haven't been telling them she is watching them. I don't do much fun stuff with it either. I just move it to a different place each night and the kids enjoy looking for it the next day.

RNBrie · 09/12/2018 08:19

Get rid of the elf. Tell them he's collected enough info and has gone back to Lapland to report back.

My kids have never asked for one but if they did I'd tell them they were nice enough not to need a mean elf watching their every move.

It's just another thing that mums (generally) are burdened with. And ignore the "oh but my kids love it, magical blah" brigade. They have too much time on their hands.

LilMy33 · 09/12/2018 08:21

I gave in to my son’s requests for an elf to visit us for the first time this year. He’s not asked before, has ASD and sometimes Christmas is a struggle so was willing to have a go at something new to make it more special for him. It’s... ok I guess. The good thing is I don’t have to wait for my eldest to go to bed before I set the bloody thing up and she sometimes helps me. And finds it hilarious that I’ve succumbed to this shite. Gone are my days of being smug for not being sucked in Hmm

cancla · 09/12/2018 08:24

Just to clarify, although we have an Elf, I have never said it is watching DS or that he needs to behave for the elf in order to get presents from Santa. It's just a daft elf that moves about and gets up to a bit of fun.

hazeyjane · 09/12/2018 08:24

In a minute a 100 posters will arrive to tell you that "it only takes a minute to create magic for your child, you do care for your child, don't you?....what do you mean you haven't got a minute to do it, your too busy!.....you're on mumsnet aren't you?.....eh, you've got a minute for that, haven't you.....what's that.....you can't be bothered.....it's too much responsibility....well why bother with Christmas at all.....why not just sit in a pile of unwashed clothes, and give your children lumps of coal for Christmas while you smoke fags and drink Vimto and Cider.....you good for nothings"....yada yada fucking yada

hazeyjane · 09/12/2018 08:26

....sorry for rant, still a bit burnt by last thread where I ended up feeling like Oliver Cromwell.

Caprisunorange · 09/12/2018 08:27

The only person? Have you just joined MN? See many miserable threads about how much HARD WORK the elf is. How CREEPY AND TERRIFYING grown women find a cuddly toy. how it’s all a big MARKETING PLOY for an unknown company. There are about a billion of them 🤣

Drivenmad80 · 09/12/2018 08:28

Job done

Elf on the Shelf
Chocolatecake12 · 09/12/2018 08:29

Put the elf away and leave a note saying that he’s gone to visit Santa to report in their behaviour.
Leave it a few days week and when he arrives back he can bring a note with him from Santa telling them they’re getting up far too early and in order to get their Presents they need to stay in bed until a reasonable time.

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